Chapter 149 Friendly Advice

Chapter 149 Friendly Advice
Maddie's POV

I stood outside of Miranda’s office, clutching the sketch I had worked on. My hands were clammy, my heart racing. Normally, this would be the highlight of my day, showing Miranda one of my new designs and hearing her feedback, but today, I felt different. I felt off. The weight of everything happening at home was pressing down on me, making it hard to focus on the task at hand.

Taking a deep breath, I knocked lightly on her office door.

“Come in,” Miranda’s voice called out to me.

I pushed it open slowly and stepped inside. Miranda was sitting behind her desk, she typed away on her laptop. The room smelled faintly of coffee and lavender, it was like a calming scent. As soon as she looked up and saw me, a smile spread across her face.

“Maddie! I’ve been waiting to see what you have been working on.” She gestured for me to come in and sit.

I managed a small smile and handed her the sketch. It was a dress that I had been envisioning for months, a soft, flowing gown with intricate lace detailing, something that felt both modern and timeless. Miranda took the sketch, her eyes scanning over the lines with the precision and excitement of someone who truly loved fashion.

“This is beautiful. Absolutely stunning,” she said, her tone filled with admiration. “I think this could be a showstopper. I’m planning a fashion show at the end of the year to showcase our designs, and this would fit perfectly.”

I should’ve felt elated. A fashion show was a big deal, a chance to show the world my designs. But all I could muster was a weak nod and a forced smile. My heart wasn’t in it, and the exhaustion from the morning’s events clouded any sense of accomplishment.

Miranda looked up from the sketch and frowned, her eyes narrowing as she studied me. “Are you okay? You don’t seem like yourself today.”

I sighed, sinking into the chair across from her. The concern in her voice broke the fragile wall I had been trying to build around my emotions all morning. “I’m not,” I admitted softly, rubbing my temples as the tension in my head intensified.

“What’s going on?” she asked gently, setting the sketch aside and focusing on me completely.

I hesitated, but I knew I needed to talk to someone. Keeping it all inside was becoming too much. “It’s Mariko,” I began, my voice shaky. “He left me alone this morning to take care of the kids because Amber called him, she needed him. She was... assaulted at a party, and he went to help her.”

Miranda’s brow furrowed, and I could see the wheels turning in her mind. “He went to her? What about her friends?"

I sighed, the anger rose in my chest again. “Yes, he went to her and I don't know about her friends. I fainted this morning. I collapsed and Rosie had to help me. The kids were late for school, and the twins were crying, and I was just left there to deal with it all.”

I could feel my throat tighten as I spoke, my emotions finally spilling out. “And this is exactly why I told him I can’t have any more kids. I’m going to tie my tubes because I just can’t do it. I can’t be a mom again. It’s too much, and he wasn't there when I needed him the most.”

Miranda leaned back in her chair, her expression softening as she absorbed everything I was saying. “I’m so sorry you are going through this. That sounds incredibly overwhelming.”

I nodded, tears stinging the back of my eyes, but I forced them back. “I just feel like everything is falling apart. I’m drowning, and Mariko runs off to her. I can’t do this alone, and I know that Rosie is there, but I need my husband.”

Miranda was quiet for a moment, her gaze thoughtful. “Have you talked to him about this? About how you’re feeling?”

“Yes,” I said, my voice bitter. “But then he went right back to her. I know she’s going through something horrible, but so am I. My situation might not be as bad as hers, but we are supposed to be his family. We should come first.”

Miranda nodded slowly. “You’re right. Your feelings are valid. But before you make any decisions about tying your tubes, I think it’s important that you and Mariko are on the same page. This is a big decision, and it’s something you both need to be sure about.”

I swallowed hard, the weight of her words sinking in. I knew she was right, but that didn’t make it any easier. “I’ve already made up my mind,” I said quietly. “I can’t go through this again. The twins are enough.”

Miranda leaned forward, resting her elbows on her desk as she studied me closely. “I understand, but this decision isn’t just about today. It’s about the future too. If you are feeling overwhelmed right now, that is something you need to address with Mariko. You both need to figure out how to manage things better together, instead of just making permanent decisions out of frustration and exhaustion.”

I bit my lip, her words hitting a sore spot in me. She was right. Tying my tubes wasn’t just a solution to my current stress; it was a permanent choice that would affect the rest of my life. But the thought of having more kids made my stomach churn. I was already barely coping as it was.

“I don’t know,” I whispered. “I’m just so tired.”

She reached across the desk and placed her hand on mine, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I get that. I really do. But take some time to think about it. Talk to Mariko again. And if you need help, ask for it. You don’t have to do this alone.”

I nodded, though I still felt the weight of everything pressing down on me. Miranda had been the voice of reason in this moment, and I appreciated her advice, but part of me just wanted to escape everything. To run away from the pressure and the chaos.

“Thank you,” I said softly, giving her a small smile.

“You’re a strong woman,” she said, her voice full of encouragement. “You have handled so much already. But it’s okay to admit when you are struggling. And it’s okay to ask Mariko to step up. You shouldn’t have to carry all of this on your own.”

I nodded again, feeling a lump form in my throat. I had been holding onto everything so tightly, trying to be strong for everyone else, but I was starting to realize that maybe it was time to let some of that go.

After a few more moments of silence, I stood up, gathering my sketch and giving Miranda a weak smile. “I should get back to work.”

She smiled warmly, standing up and walking around her desk to give me a hug. “You know I’m always here if you need to talk.”

I hugged her back, grateful for her support. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

As I walked back to my office, her words echoed in my mind. I knew I needed to talk to Mariko again, but I wasn’t sure how to even begin. The anger, the frustration, the exhaustion, they all felt like they were swallowing me whole. I needed a solution, but right now, all I could do was keep moving forward, one step at a time.



Mariko's POV

I sat in my office, staring blankly at the screen in front of me. I wasn’t really working; I was lost in my thoughts, replaying the argument with Maddie over and over in my head. The things she said about Amber… about the kids… about tying her tubes. The weight of it all pressed on my chest like a boulder I couldn’t move.

How could I want Maddie to have another child when she was clearly struggling to handle the four we already had? The exhaustion in her eyes, the way her shoulders slumped under the weight of it all. I had been selfish, so wrapped up in my own desires, my hope for another baby, that I ignored the toll it was taking on her because of what I wanted. I tried to put her own feeling and decision before mine, but it was difficult at this time.

My fingers drummed against the desk as I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes for a moment. The image of Amber, bruised and broken, flashed before me. I had gone to her out of the goodness of my heart, and as a friend, the mother of my two kids. But in doing that, I left Maddie on her own. I let her deal with the chaos of our household, of our children, on her own.

I ran a hand through my hair, the guilt gnawing at me. How did I expect Maddie to feel? I had been so focused on fixing everything else, I hadn’t even noticed that she was on the verge of breaking.

A knock at the door broke through my thoughts. I looked up as Reggie poked his head in, I sat up straighter and tried to push the mess in my head aside.

Reggie walked in.. He closed the door behind him and glanced at me, his brow furrowed. “You look like hell,” he said, walking over and plopping himself into the chair opposite my desk. “What’s going on?”

I let out a heavy sigh, knowing I couldn’t brush him off this time. He had a way of seeing through my bullsh^t. "It’s… everything,” I said, leaning forward, resting my elbows on my knees. "Maddie, Amber, the kids… I’m just-”

“Start from the beginning,” he interrupted, waving his hand like he wasn’t going to let me skim over the details.

I leaned back in my chair, taking a moment before speaking. “Amber called me last night, crying. She was assaulted at a party… it was bad.” I rubbed my face, remembering the bruises, the look of fear in her eyes. “I had to go to her. I couldn’t just leave her like that. She was alone.” Reggie nodded, listening intently but didn’t interrupt. “But that’s the thing. Every time Amber has a crisis, I drop everything and go to her. And this time… Maddie needed me. She fainted this morning. She collapsed from all the stress, and I wasn’t there.”

Reggie’s face softened as he let out a breath. “Sh^t. Is she okay?”

“She’s fine physically, but she’s overwhelmed. Rosie helped her, but I wasn’t there when she needed me.” I shook my head. “And it’s not just today. Maddie has been trying to keep it together, but she is at her breaking point. She told me that she is going to tie her tubes.”

Reggie’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “She’s tying her tubes?”

I nodded, feeling that sinking pit in my stomach again. “Yeah. She said she can’t handle any more kids, and I get it, I do. I see how hard it is for her. But… I want another baby. I want one more. And I don’t think I realized how much until she said she was done. I tried to put her feelings and decisions before me, but this feeling is overpowering that.”

Reggie leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “And you’re feeling what? Guilty for wanting more when she’s clearly struggling?”

I nodded, letting out a sigh. “Exactly. I mean, I know it’s selfish, but I’ve always wanted a big family. I grew up being the only child. I lost my parents years ago. I wanted to give that to my kids and to Maddie.”

Reggie was silent for a moment, his eyes thoughtful. “Look, I get where you are coming from. You want something you didn’t have growing up, and you want that picture-perfect big family. But you have to ask yourself, what is more important? Having another baby, or keeping the woman you love sane?”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut, but he was right. I had been thinking about the idea of another child as if it were just about me, not considering what it was doing to Maddie.

“She is drowning, Mariko. You said it yourself, she fainted. She is doing everything she can to keep the ship afloat, and if you’re not careful, you’re going to lose her to this. Kids are amazing, but they are hard. And four? That is a lot. She is telling you she is at her limit, and you have to listen.”

I looked down, my hands balled into fists on the desk. “But what if she’s just making this decision because of the stress right now? What if in a year or two, she regrets it?”

Reggie shrugged. “That’s something you both need to sit down and talk about. Really talk. You can’t just assume she will change her mind later. If she’s set on it, you need to respect that. But at the same time, make sure she has thought it through completely. It’s not a small decision.”

I let his words sink in, feeling the weight of it all pressing down on my chest. I had been so focused on my own wants and desires, but I have to try to respect her.

“You think I should push her to reconsider?” I asked, though part of me already knew the answer.

Reggie shook his head. “No. You should ask her to talk about it, make sure she has thought of everything. But if she is sure? You have to respect that. You are partners in this, not opponents.”

I nodded slowly, the reality of it settling into my bones. Maddie was my partner, and I hadn’t been acting like it recently. “Thanks, Reggie,” I said, letting out a long breath. “I needed to hear that.”

He smiled and shrugged. “That’s what I’m here for. Now, stop brooding and get back to work.”

I laughed, though it was half-hearted, and I watched as Reggie stood up and made his way out of my office. The conversation played over in my mind again, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a sense of clarity.

Maddie wasn’t the problem, my priorities were. I needed to step up, not just as a father, but as a husband. She needed me to be present, not just physically, but emotionally. And as much as I wanted another child, I couldn’t let that desire blind me to what Maddie was going through.

I glanced at the clock. There was still time in the day to get some work done, but the urge to go home and talk to Maddie, really talk, was strong. I had to make things right, to show her that I was there for her, no matter what. I wasn't going to disturb her in the office. I would wait until we were home to talk. I picked up my pen, staring at the papers in front of me, but my mind kept drifting back to Maddie. Tonight, I would make sure we had that conversation.